The Chimeric Binjari-Zika Vaccine Provides Long-Term Protection against ZIKA Virus Challenge

Review Pediatrics

Zika virus in Brazil and worldwide: a narrative review

Marlos Melo Martins et al.

Summary: Studying the knowledge of Zika virus infection in children allows pediatricians to diagnose early and provide correct treatment, as well as establish effective preventive measures for the most severe cases.

PAEDIATRICS AND INTERNATIONAL CHILD HEALTH (2021)

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Review Pharmacology & Pharmacy

TLR Agonists as Vaccine Adjuvants Targeting Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Marina Luchner et al.

Summary: Modern vaccines have shifted towards subunit components, requiring adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity. Toll-like receptor agonists show promise as adjuvants by linking innate and adaptive immune responses and providing danger signals for effective immune responses.

PHARMACEUTICS (2021)

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Review Immunology

Immune Responses Induced by mRNA Vaccination in Mice, Monkeys and Humans

Alberto Cagigi et al.

Summary: In this concise review, the concepts behind mRNA vaccination, the innate and adaptive immune response generated by mRNA vaccines in different animal models and in humans, examples of viral infections where mRNA vaccines have shown to induce potent responses, and the recent SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine trials in humans are summarized.

VACCINES (2021)

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Article Virology

Isolation of a novel insect-specific flavivirus with immunomodulatory effects in vertebrate systems

Albert J. Auguste et al.

Summary: The novel insect-specific flavivirus ARPV primarily replicates in mosquitoes, but not in sandflies, culicoides, or vertebrate cell lines. Additionally, ARPV can induce a robust innate immune response and limit WNV-induced disease in mouse models.

VIROLOGY (2021)

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Review Infectious Diseases

Measuring the global burden of chikungunya and Zika viruses: A systematic review

Christopher J. Puntasecca et al.

Summary: The study evaluated the global burden caused by CHIKV and ZIKV between 2010 and 2019, estimating an average annual DALY loss of over 106,000 and 44,000 for each virus respectively. The Americas experienced significantly higher burden compared to other WHO regions, possibly due to limited reporting in other regions and the lack of immunity in the previously unexposed populations of the Americas.

PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES (2021)

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Article Immunology

A genetically stable Zika virus vaccine candidate protects mice against virus infection and vertical transmission

Awadalkareem Adam et al.

Summary: The study generated a stable and attenuated ZIKV mutant, ZE4B-36, with combined mutations in E glycosylation and NS4B P36, showing significant reduction in neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence, as well as low infectivity in mosquitoes. The mutant induced strong immune responses in mice and protected against ZIKV-induced diseases and vertical transmission, suggesting it as a candidate live attenuated vaccine with increased safety and strong immunogenicity for ZIKV prevention and control.

NPJ VACCINES (2021)

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Review Immunology

Chimeric Vaccines Based on Novel Insect-Specific Flaviviruses

Jessica J. Harrison et al.

Summary: Researchers suggest that new technologies are needed to address issues related to the ongoing efficacy, safety, and supply of flavivirus vaccines. They believe that a new vaccine platform should be applicable to all flavivirus diseases and be able to quickly respond to newly emerged diseases.

VACCINES (2021)

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Article Virology

A Live-Attenuated Zika Virus Vaccine with High Production Capacity Confers Effective Protection in Neonatal Mice

Xianmiao Ye et al.

Summary: The study introduces an attenuated strain of Zika virus, rGZ02a, with reduced pathogenicity and unique amino acid alterations, which induces strong antibody responses and effectively protects offspring from Zika virus-induced neurological disorders and brain damage. This novel live-attenuated vaccine shows promise as an effective tool in preventing Zika virus outbreaks.

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY (2021)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Safety and immunogenicity of a purified inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate in healthy adults: an observer-blind, randomised, phase 1 trial

Htay-Htay Han et al.

Summary: This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a Zika virus vaccine in healthy adults, showing that the vaccine was well tolerated and had positive effects on the immune system.

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Immunology

A chimeric dengue virus vaccine candidate delivered by high density microarray patches protects against infection in mice

Jovin J. Y. Choo et al.

Summary: The study found that immunization with a single, 1 μg dose of BinJ/DENV2-prME delivered via the HD-MAPs enhanced the kinetics of neutralizing antibody induction and provided complete protection against virus challenge in the AG129 DENV mouse model.

NPJ VACCINES (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

A unified route for flavivirus structures uncovers essential pocket factors conserved across pathogenic viruses

Joshua M. Hardy et al.

Summary: Using a chimeric platform, researchers have successfully and safely analyzed the structures of pathogenic flaviviruses, uncovering the presence of two lipid-like ligands within highly conserved pockets of the envelope protein's stem region that play a crucial role in virus maturation.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Microbiology

Neuroinvasiveness of the MR766 strain of Zika virus in IFNAR-/- mice maps to prM residues conserved amongst African genotype viruses

Eri Nakayama et al.

Summary: The high virulence of the African MR766 strain in adult IFNAR(-/-) mice may be associated with specific amino acid residues in its prM protein.

PLOS PATHOGENS (2021)

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Review Immunology

Current Progress in the Development of Zika Virus Vaccines

Kehui Zhou et al.

Summary: Zika virus infection can lead to severe consequences like microcephaly, and there is currently no specific treatment available. Developing effective and safe vaccines is crucial for preventing potential pandemics.

VACCINES (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Catastrophic expenditure on congenital Zika syndrome: results of a cross-sectional study of caregivers of children in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Marcia Pinto et al.

Summary: In Brazil, there was an increase in newborns with congenital malformations associated with maternal Zika virus infection in 2015, leading to serious social and economic repercussions for families. Families of children with severe CZS have a higher prevalence of catastrophic expenditure, which may be related to the psychological stress and social support levels of caregivers.

CADERNOS DE SAUDE PUBLICA (2021)

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Review Pharmacology & Pharmacy